COMC: Phnom Penh - Kampong Thom Market, Asia Hotel...and something else.

COMC, definition: When a kind of forgetful blogger tries to "Clean Out the Memory Card" and posts on events that happened quite a while back.

Recently, the Missus reminded me that I had never posted on our two days in Phnom Penh. I didn't believe Her...."there's no way I forgot to do posts on Phnom Penh." And yet I did. So pardon me while I C(lean) O(ut the) M(emory) C(ard) and catch up on all those potential posts that have been languishing on my hard drive.

We had decided to "bus it" to Phnom Penh from Siem Reap, it was cheap, and it gave a glimpse of the countryside. The bus happened to make a stop in Kampong Thom. And while everyone rushed into the nice and clean restaurant and shop. We noticed something several blocks away. It was a rather large market. It was situated on a large dusty, drab, patch of dirt, with piles of garbage lying around, but it was interesting. It was also fascinating to note that no one on the bus ventured even close to this market. So here's a few photos:

   

How's this for a big pile of bugs?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andof course there's always prepared food..... just as in Vietnam, Baguette Sandwiches are very popular.

 

And there were several of  these typical eating stands.

 

Each stand had pots or trays lined with dishes...a steam table, without steam. You were free to peer into the pots, and eyeball the various items.

 

You pick out what you want, and the dishes usually come with rice.....have a seat and eat.

 

Unfortunately we had a bus to catch.....

We made it into Phnom Penh, and in spite of the very comfortable bus ride on the very clean Mekong Express Bus ($10 Siem Reap to Phnom Penh), after hitting the National Museum of Cambodia I needed a rest. Instead of staying along Tonle Sap, we decided to stay on busy Monivong Boulevard. Our Hotel was the Asia Hotel. This hotel has a special place in our heart.....it was quite quirky in several ways. First, many of the folks working here are somewhat detached, but the folks who are nice, are really...well kinda overboard nice. The lobby smelled kind of strange...the fragrances from the attached restaurant permeated everything as the lobby did not have great ventilation. And then there were the signs....everywhere..... Tons of signs in the lobby of things you cannot do:

    

Everything from No Cooking and No Durian, to no drying laundry, to no bringing strange women (!) into your room. And it seemed that management would not be responsible for anything!

And to top it off there was this sign...yes you too can fire off a B40 Rocket Launcher for just 200 bucks!

 

When I read the ($8 US) "go to shooting by taxis 2 ways".....I couldn't stop laughing. I hope no one took that literally! BTW, I saw a couple of young men "packing" when we went for a walk....I'm guessing this is legal in Cambodia. And there was a fridge in lobby where you could grab a bottle (or two, or three, or....) of beer, and an attendant would pop the top, and you'd trot off to your room.....

And then there were the hallways. Did you ever see the movie "Ju-on" (the Grudge)? I found the perfect setting for a sequel. The gloss white along with bad flourescent lighting, combined with rather tight hallways, is not very flattering.

  

In spite of these somewhat amusing quirks, the rooms were very large, clean, and the hot water was....well hot!

 

And thankfully, the A/C worked well, and the beds were comfortable.

And on the cleanliness note. This young lady was death on two legs for any flying insect in the lobby. We called her the "Ex-term-in-NATOR", and she worked with a dedicated fervor. I'm still looking for one of those battery powered fly zappers......but I don't know if they sell them here in the states.

 

And yet, there was something even more amusing......

When we checked in, one of the young men, looked at me proudly, and guided me toward an adjoining doorway, telling me: "we are very modern, and advanced...."

So what was he talking about.....some kind of cutting edge technology?

Something advanced?

"We are the first to have......" He proudly puffed out his chest.

"A KFC in Cambodia!"

 

Yep folks, you heard it right here. And this KFC did bang up business...plus the Missus turned out to be quite fond of Mirinda Orange.

Of course this KFC had it's own regional specialty:

   

Called Colonel Rice (which I believe is a Malaysian KFC item), which I tried....it's rice in some bland seasoning with sweet raisins (ick) covered with gravy. One thing I did like was the inclusion of chili paste with everything.

Just think, among all of the strong selling points of the hotel, big rooms, cold A/C, comfy beds.....KFC outshone them all!

Comments

[nhbilly]

How unfortunate you could not sample the out door market, but it sure sound like you guys really roughed it to see the country side I would too. Regarding the electric fly zapper I think they sell it at Boat and Harbor and it make the little pesky fly pop just don't touch it yourself.

[nhbilly]

Oh yeah regarding the shooting gun services would have been a great hunting experience ;-)

[Tammy]

I saw the fly zapper at 99 ranch and viet dong!

[moowiesqrd/GF]

Awesome, Kirk! I thought it was great that you two went to the market instead of the restaurant. Those big pots of soups/stews looked delicious. By the way, I've seen the fly zapper at Great News.

[Michelle]

HAHAHAHAH...you are right, that hallway is ALWAYS in any Asian scary movie! I've seen the same kind of hallway with exactly the same lighting in Thai, Cambodian and even Korean ghost movies too! Look for the Thai ghost movie when the main character starts seeing ghosts with his camera..hehehe

[Christine]

It's sad that you didn't have a chance to taste some Phnom Penh noodles. Mmm, I'm craving that now. T_T

[kat]

great COMC, the KFC here doesn't serve mashed potatoes with gravy.

[Masa Assassin]

Wow Kirk as gun enthusiast I must say I've never had a chance to fire a B-40 at the local range, that's classic!

[Kirk]

Hi Billy - OK, I better keep an eye peeled...

Hi Tammy - We may just have to go buy one....

Hi GF - For some reason, I find that Great News carries this kinda funny.

Hi Michelle - he-he-he.... Can you imagine on of those beings gliding down that acrylic floor, they glide without moving their legs!!!

Hi Christine - Do you mean Kuyteav? I heard it's much like Hu Tieu. I did get a chance to taste Num Banh Chok, though.

Hi Kat - Really? No mashed potatoes at KFC....that's just wrong.

Hi MA - I hope you don't plan to go shooting by taxis both ways...

[foodhoe]

I like the clearing out part - great post. I wonder how they capture all of those giant bugs in the market? Are they still alive?

[Kirk]

Hi FH - No the bugs have been roasted. As for harvesting? I haven't a clue....and perhaps that's for the best.